The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-15
WE COULD NOT PROTECT Hawaii

England Germany Could Establish q Pros
tectorate and Laugh at Us.
Washington Special
The Department Of State is still in Official
ignorance Of the revolution in Hawaii. and First
Assistant Secretary Porter said to-day that ths
department. did not expect to hear anything for
four or five days-not until the dispatches which
Minister Merrill sent on the Mariposa shall have
been sent overland from San Francisco and re-
ceived in Washington
When asked whether any specific instructions
had been issued to Minister in Honolulu.
Secretary Porter said that only general instruc-
tions had been given, although he did not appre-
hend that any serious results would ensue from
the revolution. In regard to the protection Of
the lives and property of Americans in Honolulu,
that was a matter that would have to be left to
tho discretion of the American Minister and the
naval authorities on the Pacific. The navy
would only interfere as Rear-Admiral Frankhn
did at Alexandria few years ago. in our
citizens placed in danger.
Mr.. Porter was asked what would be the out
If one OF the great powers. England.
France. or Germany, were TO try and establish a
protectorate the islaud. He declined to
consider the question at all, because, as he said
'its use thinking about coming down q hill
BET ore you have reached the top" He added
that he did not think the foreign ambassadors
would be likely to do any thing radical to
ceed their authority, the press dispatches
showed, because when the King offered to place
temporary power in their hands they declined
to accept the trust
One of the prominent officials of the Navy De-
partment was asked how much of force
have in the Pacific at the present time. ''We
haven't any" was lis reply. ''At least. none TO
speak Of Now continued this officer. .slook at
the force England has in Pacific waters. a force
that could pe rapidly concentrated Ali the
sells in rood condition, built after the latest
models, snG they carry rihed cannon of large
calibre, and not the old smooth h-bores that wa
have. There is the Triumph iroEclad, IA guns.
6,040 tous- 5.l10 horse power. the flag ship OF
Conquest. IA guns. 2,380 tons. 2.670 horse.
power; Caroline IA guns. l,420 toni and
I,540 horsepower; the Hvacinth. guns,
her tonnage and horse power the tho
Caroline; the sloops Pelican and Wild Swan,
eight guns each, and the Cormorant. SIX guns,
The Triumph carries 600 men, the corvettes 300
eacn and the sloops about 150.each- Sooner
than we could send the Atlanta from New York,
which is the best ship we have for it would take
seventy days to steam to Hawaii England could
dispatch vessels from her Chinese and British
North American fleets and still leave her Austria
liam colonies protected by their own vessels.
Germany might try to have preponderating
influence there. She is now engaged IN colon
ial policy and is trying to extend her powers
other country obtain overshadowing influences
in Hawaiian affasrs. and If necessary TO prevent
that we should GO to war. There - no use or
our having navy unless we can have coaling
stations, end as coal has been declared contra
band of war, our vessels would be absolutely
worthless unless we could obtain supplies
Honolulu is Of Importance to us than
Malta and Cyprus is to Great Britain-far more
so. in fact Germany has no unimportant
feet in that part of the world, the vesseis of